Rise In 999 Calls To Ambulance Service In Essex

It says it received more than 26,600 emergency calls from the county, up from around 24,500 in 2015.

It also says over the six counties it covers, it had its busiest ever January with nearly 85,000 99 calls - a rise of 12 percent.

Chief Executive Robert Morton added: "We are making real improvements for patients and staff - it might not be reflected in the headline performance figures due to the steep rises in demand and other issues affecting our capacity to respond, but we are on the right track.

"We are changing things to give a more tailored and appropriate response and this is being seen in the fact that the number of patients we have taken to hospital has not gone up as much as demand has.

"I want to thank all our staff and volunteers who are working really hard to give patients the best possible service."